Originally Posted by
holger
Hi Tim,
Personally, I have not registered an experimental glider. But I've dealt on long drawn-out certification issues with the FAA, during which I was handed from one FAA representative to another with varying and contradicting responses to my requests. The FARs are a complex set of rules and the FAA representatives are aware they can't know them all by heart. I've dug out FARs and sat down with an FAA inspector, and I got what I wanted. Most have been very friendly and helpful. So far I've been extremely lucky with the FAA.
It's not easy to find experimentals by type in the database. They need not be registered as "Challengers", for instance. The manufacturer is the main builder. The FAA therefore also doesn't give too much weight on the kit and its specs. It's the individual aircraft they are focused on. That said, if you come with examples of other experimental aircrafts that were classified as power assisted gliders and obviously don't meet JAR22, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting it for your plane also. Look for Monis. There are 15-20 or so that are gliders. I can connect you with an owner, if you like.
Holger